Serbia to abolish taxes on donations and humanitarian aid

Taxes on donations and humanitarian aid in Serbia should be abolished in 2017, as confirmed by Minister of Labor, Employment, Veteran and Social Policy Aleksandar Vulin.

He said that it was not an easy job, but that he expected to be supported in it by the Ministry of Finance and all relevant authorities.

– I'm sure we will manage to ease the business conditions for our donors. The Ministry of Labor has started the initiative and we are talking with the Ministry of Finance about how to stimulate donorship, instead of penalizing it with taxes and VAT – Vulin said.

According to him, it is wrong for companies providing gifts and donations for socially vulnerable categories to pay taxes and VAT in the same manner as if they were to sell them in the market.

– Savings would be made that way and the private sector would be helped in being socially responsible – Vulin said.

The abolition of VAT for donors and those providing humanitarian aid would be enabled by amendments to legislations, Novosti writes. As stated, Serbia is one of the few countries not providing tax exemptions for donors and providers of humanitarian aid.